ADHD: Thereby acting drugs

The drug methylphenidate, better known under the drug name Ritalin,
helps adults with narcolepsy fall asleep suddenly during the day. Even
hyperactive children are benefiting from this amazing way: They
control their behavior and can concentrate better. While some doctors
recommend this drug, while others warn of the side effects.

Doctors prescribing Ritalin now more cautious - especially because
parents are often skeptical of their children and not "pacify" want.
While this fear, in the opinion of child and youth practitioners is
unfounded: "The usual medications are not - as many believe - to
tranquilizers and sedatives, should also make the hyperactive children
calm, but, paradoxically, to stimulants," says pediatrician Klaus
Skrodzki . Today we know that the drug methylphenidate provides for a
higher concentration of dopamine in the brain, thus ensuring a faster
conduction between nerve cells.

Drug falls under the Narcotics Act
The effect is half an hour after ingestion and maintains approximately
three hours. The children are attentive and well balanced. "Around 90
percent of the children talk to them," says Skrodzki. They take either
methylphenidate multiple times a day or so-called slow-release
preparations, which release the drug delayed.

Concern on parents, especially the side effects of methylphenidate,
which falls under the Narcotics Act. These include loss of appetite,
abdominal pain and headaches and insomnia. "Long-term side effects are
not visible," says Johanna Krause, psychiatrist and psychotherapist in
Munich. Do not depend on the drug.

Long-term side effects not yet known
Critics fear that the drugs affect the brain development of children.
Additionally, more threatening side effects that were previously known
only failed because they have not been explored thoroughly enough,
fears the child psychologist Hans-Reinhard Schmidt. "In the U.S. there
was a study in which were all participating in twelve children after
three months of methylphenidate damage in the genetic material of
blood cells derived from which the scientist is an increased risk of
cancer." This study does not meet the strict criteria, the researchers
for the detection of Such genetic damage have determined Dr. Skrodzki
counters. Hans-Reinhard Schmidt: ". In animal experiments, the drug
caused permanent brain changes also" Previous studies had also
indicated that methylphenidate makes it more susceptible to cocaine
addiction and leads to impaired growth. This is valid now as refuted.
The manufacturer of methylphenidate still advise in the instructions
to regularly check your height and weight of children taking the drug.

Adults also take methylphenidate. "Previously it was thought that the
complaints stop with puberty. But about 50 to 70 percent of these
patients also suffer from ADHD in adulthood, "says pediatrician
Skrodzki. Currently underway, including studies, because so far the
only drug approved for children and adolescents. Doctors prescribe it
affected adults but on private prescription.
DL-Amphetamine
Similar acts Methylphendidat DL-amphetamine. It is closely related to
the substance that was used as a party drug "speed" career. "Some
children respond better to amphetamine than methylphenidate," says
pediatrician Klaus Skrodzki. Amphetamines also falls under the
Narcotics Act. In addition, there is no finished-product. The
pharmacist prepares customized to capsules or juice.
Atomoxetine
Since February 2005, in Germany approved another drug for ADHD
therapy: The prescription drug atomoxetine is not one of the
psycho-stimulants and therefore does not fall under the narcotics law.
Atomoxetine has also longer than methylphenidate. Affected children
have to take it only once a day. The effect lasts until the next
morning and evening. Atomoxetine in the brain solves the Dopinmangel
chemically hyperactive children in a different way than resolve
methylphenidate. The doctor can prescribe it on a regular recipe.
Although considered medically makes no difference, however, reassured
concerned parents.

"We can not say what substance works better - Methylphendidat or
atomoxetine," said Dr. Michael Huss, Director of the Outpatient Clinic
for children and adolescents with ADHD at the Charité Berlin. "But
this much is certain, there is a similar effect." Doctors can
prescribe atomoxetine children six years. Affected adults may
therefore be further treated if they received the drug as a teenager.
Atomoxetine in the United States has long been on the market. More
than two million people take the drug regularly. The side effects of
methylphenidate and atomoxetine are comparable. In very rare cases,
atomoxetine, however, has caused liver damage.

Paion may try new sedative

Aachen (Germany) - The biopharmaceutical company Paion AG has received
approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for
inclusion of clinical trials on humans for the sedative CNS 7056. At
the same time, the IND (Investigational New Drug) effectively, the
company said on Wednesday.

By the end of the year should a phase I study in the U.S. are
carried out and completed, Paion. Following a phase II study is
planned with patients who undergo a medical procedure like a
colonoscopy while on concomitant sedatives. Paion acquired CNS 7056
under the recently completed acquisition of CeNeS Pharmaceuticals.

Alzheimer's disease: health care research for better quality of life and cost consciousness

Berlin (Germany) - The first is a study information about the supply
situation of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The results of the
analysis are presented in Berlin today. "With this retrospective data
analysis for the first time the drug supply situation of our
policyholders with Alzheimer's disease has shown. Our goal is to build
optimized in expert discussions of living and quality of care our
insured continuously," said the deputy chairman of Barmer, Birgit
Fischer, in berlin. After all, a result which is from the Institute of
Empirical Health Economics (IFEG) conducted cost analysis that about
one third of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia or
dementia-focused therapy or psychotropic drugs were given.
Approximately half of the patients received no specific anti-dementia
drugs, but were only with psychotropic drugs, hypnotics / sedatives or
treated.

To improve the quality of care of people with dementia continue to
Barmer health services research, this study of patients with
Alzheimer's disease has already started 2005 with Merz and the
Institute of Empirical Health Economics (IFEG). For the first time in
Germany were collected using anonymous payroll data from 2005, the
total cost and the cost structure of Barmer insured with Alzheimer's
disease. "For us as a pharmaceutical company with its own research, it
is necessary to perform high-quality care studies, in order not to do
research on the needs of over," said Dr. Eugene Wilbert, Director of
Marketing & Sales Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Frankfurt.

Today's health care research takes the care of patients under everyday
conditions under the magnifying glass: It is a multidisciplinary,
problem-oriented research field that examines how financing systems,
organizational structures and processes, and health-related
technologies and other issues, the access to health care, the quality
and cost health care and health and well being of patients influence.

The study included a cost comparison of IFEG supply of three groups:
patients treated with memantine therapy, patients treated with
psychotropic drugs / hypnotics / sedatives and patients without a
dementia-focused therapy. A non-antidementive pharmacotherapy of
Alzheimer's dementia causes, especially in the higher maintenance
costs, the results of Prof. Dr. Reinhard Rychlik Institute of
Empirical Health Economics, University of Bochum. According to the
results, occurred in the total costs, despite higher drug costs
specific results in the best of memantine group.

"The Barmer is committed to an interdisciplinary collaboration of all
stakeholders in healthcare," said Fischer. "We are committed to our
ability to gain knowledge from data, to work for our affected
policyholders with a multiprofessional team on improvements to address
the particular disease."

dental and other sedatives

Soon we will be answering the question what sedatives are. Some patience is appreciated.